Pen cleaner and holder.



W. T. TYLER.

PEN CLEANER AND HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10, 1913.

Patented Mar. 10, 1914;

Snuenkoz WWI/110110]: d

l/vbtmeoozo yzg/a; 3 74% WILLIAM T. TYLER, 0F WARSAW, VIRGINIA.

PEN CLEANER AND HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 10, 1914.

Application filed January 10, 1913. Serial No. 741,263.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. TYLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at \Varsaw, in the county of Richmond and State of Virginia,have invented new and useful Improvements in Pen Cleaners and Holders,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a pen holding device, the primary objectthereof being to provide a body, which is adapted to serve as a paperweight, and a nib-receiving element carried thereby of soft material,preferably pith, into which the nibs of the pen may be inserted at anyangle and which will effectively retain the same in the insertedposition until withdrawn for use.

A further object is the provision of a de vice of this character whereinthe body is provided with a recess for the reception of thenib-receiving element specified and means for rcmovably securing thesaid element in position within the recess, so that the saidnib-receiving element may be replaced when it is no longer lit for use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a nib-receivingelement composed of companion sections, which may be individuallyreplaced as the occasion may demand.

The invention consists in the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and clai1ned,referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the device in use; Fig. 2 is a sideelevation showing the securing plate in open position; and, Fig. 3 is adetail perspective view of one of the nib-receiving element sections.

In the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the body of the device, whichmay be con structed of wood, metal, or even glass so as to provide anobject adapted to serve as a paper weight. This body is provided with atransverse recess 2 in its upper face for the reception of thenib-receiving element which has its end walls concaved as at 3. In orderto reduce the cost of manufacture, especially in the construction of thebody of wood or metal, this recess 2 is extended through the body so asto open through the opposite sides thereof, and a side plate t issecured in suitable manner to one side of the body 1 so as to form aside wall for the recess 2, this plate being provided with an opening 5communicating centrally with the recess 2 for a purpose which will bepresently described.

The nib-receiving element for the pens is preferably in the form of acomposite block (3 of vegetable matter, such as pith contained in cornstalks, or like plants, and includes a plurality of sections 7. Thesesections 7 may be cut so that the block will completely fill the recess2, the ends of the block sections being convexas at 8, in order toprevent the same from becoming detached from the body 1 by verticalmovement. This nib-receiving element is adapt ed to effectively retainthe nibs of the pens in their inserted position, no matter what theangle of insertion may be, and it is capable of cleaning the pen nib andabsorbmg any ink that remains thereon after use. These notablecharacteristics of pith render the said element a decided improvementover the present-day pen holding devices constructed of layers of paper,between which layers the pen nibs may be inserted, it being necessary toinsert the pen in a plane parallel to the planes of the said layers.

Corn pith, that is the pith obtained from the stalk of the plant, doesnot have a very pronounced grain, and yet has a great number ofsubstantially parallel fibers extending therethrough, which arecon'iparatively tough and serve as effective means for reinforcing thepith and resisting lateral strain in particular. In accordance with myinvention, a block of corn pith is positioned within the elongatedrecess in a suitable holding body so that its reinforcing fibers extendlongitudinally therein. The most blunt pen nib that may be inserted intothe pith block will easily penetrate the same without compressing thepith to such an extent that the pen will not be held socurely in appliedposition. The pen nib may distort the said fibers or may sever a numberof the same without destroying that shape-retaining quality of thematerial which renders the same peculiarly adapted for use in thiscapacity.

I propose to manufacture a supporting body for a corn pith nib-receivingelement, which is intended for pernlanent use and to produce removablenib-receiving elements of the character set forth in such quantitiesthat a new element may be readily obtainable when it is desired toreplace a damaged element. In carrying out this idea, I have constructedeach nib-receiving element and the supporting body therefor in such aman ner that the said element may be positioned properly within the bodywithout the exercise of extreme care in the operation. It shouldtherefore be apparent that an unskilled person can renew a worn outnibreceiving element without being especially familiar with the physicalproperties of corn pith and the exact manner in which a nib-receivingelement of this material should be arranged for use in a pen holder. Asthe supporting body is provided with an elongated recess, and eachnib-receiving element is cut of the same shape and size as the recess,so that the reinforcing fibers extend longitudinally in the element,there is only one way to position the element within the supportingbody, and that is the correct way.

A securing plate 9 is pivoted adjacent one end of the side face 10 ofthe body 1 opposite the plate d by means of a removable pivot pin 11,this plate 9 being adapted to swing in vertical plane, so that it may beswung into open position, as shown in Fig. 2, to permit withdrawal ofthe nibreceiving element, or may be swung downwardly into closedposition, wherein it completely closes the adjacent end of the recess 2.ii limiting screw-member 12 provided with a head 13 is adjustablymounted in the body 1 opposite the pivot pin 11 so as to serve as meansfor engagement with the lower edge of the securing plate 9 to retain thesame in its closed position.

When it is desired to replace the nib-receiving element, or certainunserviceable sections thereof, a pen holder or pencil may be insertedin the opening 5, after the plate 9 is swung into open position, toforce the said element laterally through the open end of the recess.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that I have provided apen holding device of small and compact construction,

which is adapted to serve its purpose efflciently and continuously, andwhich may be used as a paper weight.

What is claimed is:

1. A pen holder comprising a supporting body having a recess thereinopening through its upper face and one of its side faces and providedwith concave end walls, the said Y body being provided with an openingin its opposite side communicating medially with the said recess, and anib-receiving element positioned within the recess and consisting of aplurality of transversely alined sections having convex ends engagedwith the concave end faces of the recess.

2, A pen holder comprising a supporting body having a recess thereinopening through its upper face and one of its side faces and providedwith concave end walls, the said body being provided with an opening inits opposite side communicating medially with the said recess, anib-receiving element positioned within the recess and consisting of aplurality of transversely alined sections having convex ends engagedwith the concave end faces of the recess, the said sections beingadapted for lateral sliding movement within the recess duringindependent application or removal thereof, and a vertically swingingclosure plate pivoted to the body and adapted to be moved into positionwherein it will close the adjacent side of the recess.

3. A pen holder comprising asupporting body having an elongated recesstherein, and an elongated nib-receiving element con structed of cornpith with its grain extending longitudinally, the said element beingadapted to be fitted within the said recess.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM T. TYLER.

Witnesses:

A. N. WnLLroRn, E. D. TURNER, Jr.

Copies of this patent may he obtained. for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. E.

